Liquid droplet plug and spray system

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a liquid droplet spray system for atomising a liquid substance, comprising: a support having a central aperture ( 27 ), a liquid droplet spray device in which a space is provided, the space being arranged to receive the liquid substance, and including a nozzle body ( 28 ) covering the space such that the liquid substance may exit the space of the device by traversing the nozzle body ( 28 ) and the system by traversing the central aperture ( 27 ) of the support, a reservoir ( 33 ) for containing the liquid substance.

This is a National Phase Application in the United States ofInternational Patent Application No. PCT/EP2005/006089 filed Jun. 7,2005, which claims priority on European Patent Application No.04013559.2, filed Jun. 9, 2004. The entire disclosures of the abovepatent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a liquid droplet plug & spray systemcomprising a liquid droplet spray device suitable for atomising a liquidsubstance, such as a personal or an ambient fragrance or a functionalliquid such as an insecticide or a medicated liquid. Such a device maybe used, e.g., for fragrance or functional or medical liquid dispensers,for an inhaler or the like, for controlled release of droplets of such.More specifically, the present invention concerns a liquid droplet spraysystem which is of modular design having a disposable part and apermanent, nondisposable part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various devices are known for atomising a liquid. For example, thedocuments EP 0923957 and EP 1005916, both in the name of the presentApplicant describe a liquid droplet spray device. A brief description ofthe liquid droplet spray device known from these documents, which arehereby incorporated by reference, is given here.

The spray device of the above-referenced documents consists of a housingformed of a superposition of a first substrate and a second substratein-between which a space is formed for containing a liquid substance.One of the substrates contains outlet means containing outlet nozzlesand output channels connecting these nozzles to the space. A liquidsubstance enters the spray device by way of, e.g., a very low pressure,e.g., around a few millibar or slightly negative pressure, or capillaryaction. This can be achieved for example by way of at least one inputtube or needle through which the liquid substance may be supplied froman external reservoir into the spray device. The spray device furthercomprises a vibrating element, e.g. a piezoelectric element to causevibration of the liquid substance in the space so as to cause the liquidto be ejected as a spray of droplets. There is no description of asystem or of the arrangement of the external reservoir with respect tothe device.

A liquid droplet spray system is known from the document U.S. Pat. No.5,749,519. This device relates to an air freshener which has a reservoirfor containing an air freshener liquid. The reservoir is connected to avapour-emanating surface of a liquid dispensing device by way of a wick.The liquid is transmitted from the reservoir via the wick throughcapillary action to the vapour-emanating surface so as to dispense theair freshener.

Due to its design, and in particular due to the use of a wick, theliquid dispensing device always transmits the liquid to thevapour-emanating surface: Thus, to avoid waste and spill, the device isprovided in a housing having a cover for sealing the vapour-emanatingsurface. Once the cover is removed, the vapour is dispensed into thesurrounding air.

However, when the reservoir needs to be exchanged, the user will receiveair freshener on his hands when manipulating the reservoir due to thewick being in contact with the liquid. Of course, air fresheners usestrong fragrances so that this is not very pleasant. Further, this leadsto a loss of liquid if one forgets to put the cover back on, and it isimpossible to allow for a controlled dispersion of the vapour amount.

Another liquid droplet spray system is known from the document US2002/0070239. This system has a reservoir, a flexible pouch, containinga porous material for absorbing the liquid of the reservoir. Thereservoir is connected to a capillary channel, also containing a porousmaterial, such as a wick. The channel leads the liquid to a perforatedmembrane surface. When the surface is vibrated by further providedvibration means, the liquid is dispensed as droplets.

Here again, a wick is used, both in the reservoir and in the capillarychannel. Thus, when changing the reservoir, it would appear impossibleto do such without any liquid spilling out.

Further, due to the design of the system, liquid may leak through theperforated membrane even when the system is not in use thus leading towastage and related inconveniences such as unwanted fragrancing. Ofcourse, controlled dispensing is not possible either with this system.

Another droplet spray device is known from the document U.S. Pat. No.6,062,212 which describes a liquid dispenser having vibration meanswhich are activated to expel liquid from a mesh in the usual manner, butwhich remain activated to ensure a complete emptying of the liquid fromthe dispenser. The disadvantage is that this additional atomisingduration will sometimes be either too long or too short and that a fixedtime will not work with liquids of various viscosities and surfacetensions and ambient conditions.

Another droplet spray device is known from co-pending application no. EP04 001 566.1 in the name of the present Applicant. This device consistsof a disposable part having a reservoir for containing a liquidsubstance, and a valve for blocking the reservoir so as to avoid spillwhen the device is not in use, and a permanent, non-disposable parthaving the nozzle body, a piezo-electric actuator, electronic controlmeans, and a fluidic interface linking the reservoir to the space in thenozzle body. Although this device overcomes many of the above-raisedinconveniences due to partly disposable items, it suffers fromcontamination of the space of the droplet spray device, which may incertain cases not be fully emptied after use. A re-fill with anotherliquid substance will thus result in uncontrolled release, either inquantity or in actual substance caused by contamination.

Further, due to the presence of any remaining liquid substance, cloggingmay occur of the fluidic channel, of nozzles in the nozzle body or evenof the reservoir thus impeaching the operation of the device.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a liquiddroplet spray system that overcomes the above-mentioned inconveniencesand that can be efficiently used for liquid substances such as perfumesor other non-aqueous solvent based liquids, or for liquid medicaments.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a systemthat is simple, reliable and inexpensive to manufacture, small in sizeand low in energy consumption and cost, and as such suitable as apersonal or ambient fragrance and functional liquid dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention concerns a liquid droplet spray system asdefined in the appended claims.

Thanks to the construction of the liquid droplet spray system accordingto the present invention an efficient system may be obtained in arelatively simple and inexpensive manner.

Furthermore, due to the modular design of the system, it is possible toeasily exchange the reservoir and nozzle body without any unwanted spillor wastage of liquid contained in the reservoir and without any risk ofunwanted clogging. In fact, the system comprises a disposable part and apermanent, non-disposable part, wherein the disposable part comprisesthe reservoir containing the liquid substance, the nozzle body, afluidic channel linking the reservoir to the space of the nozzle body aswell as a valve ensuring that the disposable part is liquid tight evenwhen removed from the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the liquid droplet spray systemaccording to the present invention will become clear from reading thefollowing description, which is given solely by way of a non-limitativeexample thereby referring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a liquid droplet plug and spray system according to thepresent invention,

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b show an exploded view and an assembled view,respectively, of an example of a disk-shaped permanent part of theliquid droplet spray system of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show an exploded view and an assembled view,respectively, of an example of a valve body forming part of thedisposable part of the liquid droplet spray system of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the reservoir attached to thevalve body,

FIG. 5 shows the disposable part of the liquid droplet plug and spraysystem according to the present invention,

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the assembled plug and spray systemaccording to the present invention,

FIG. 7 shows the operation of opening and closing the valve body of thedisposable part,

FIG. 8 shows an alternative arrangement of FIG. 7 where the reservoircomprises two sub-compartments,

FIG. 9 shows a further alternative arrangement where a powdercompartment is provided in a hollow top ring member of the valve body,in a closed valve position,

FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of FIG. 9 in an open valve position,

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the permanent part,

FIG. 12 shows schematically an example of a multiple powder compartmentarrangement in a top ring member of the valve body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

An example of a preferred embodiment will now be described.

FIG. 1 shows a liquid droplet plug and spray system indicated by generalreference S. This system contains a permanent, non-disposable part, anda disposable part. FIGS. 1 a and 1 b respectively show from below andfrom above a pre-assembly and a post-assembly view of the system.

The permanent part comprises a support which may be a flexible electriccircuit board or a PCB element, a membrane actuator, an insulator, anelectromechanical actuator such as a piezoelectric element and anelectrode. FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, respectively show an exploded view and anassembled view of an example of a disk-shaped permanent part, indicatedby reference numeral 2, comprising a disk-shaped PCB 5, an electrode 13,a piezoelectric element 11, an insulator 9, and a membrane actuator 7,assembled one to the other by way of fastening means, here by way ofrivets 15, to form a disk as shown in the assembled view in FIG. 2 b. Ofcourse the PCB is not always disc-shaped.

PCB 5 has an aperture 17 covered by piezoelectric element 11.Piezoelectric element further is electrically connected to both themembrane actuator 7 and electrode 13 which themselves are connected tothe PCB, for example via rivets 15 as shown in FIG. 2A. In this example,PCB 5 further comprises two semicircular slots 19 a and 19 b forreceiving notches provided on the disposable part, as will be explainedfurther on.

The disposable part comprises a reservoir, a valve body, linked to thereservoir, a nozzle body linked to the valve body and may comprise anelectrical power source such as a battery for powering the electricalcontrol system. The permanent part comprises the electromechanicalactuator (in this example the piezoelectric element), an electroniccontrol means such as an ASIC and may comprise an electrical powersource, such as a battery for powering the electronic control means andthe electromechanical actuator.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show an exploded view and an assembled view,respectively, of an example of a valve body of a valve body used in thedisposable part of the liquid droplet plug and spray device according tothe present invention.

Valve body 21 comprises a cylinder member 22 surrounded by a top ringmember 23 and a bottom ring member 24. Cylinder member 22 is assembledwith the ring members 23, 24 in such a way that it may rotate withrespect to the ring members that are maintained in a fixed position. Tothis effect, cylinder member 24 is provided with a manipulating memberon its top surface allowing to rotate it. In this example, themanipulating member consists of two projections 26. As can be seen inFIG. 3 a, ring members 23 and 24 each have one or more slots 18 in theirside surface and are assembled such that these slots are aligned to formapertures 25, see FIG. 3 b, in the outer peripheral side surface ofvalve body 21. Cylinder member 22 also has one or more apertures in itsside surface forming fluidic channels 32 through the cylinder member. Bymanipulating the projections 26, the fluidic channels 32 may be alignedor not with the side apertures 25 in the ring members.

Cylinder member 22 further has a central aperture 27 which is in fluidicconnection with the fluidic channel(s) so as to allow for a flow of aliquid substance through the fluidic channel into the central aperture.

A nozzle body 28 is fitted over central aperture 27 on the bottomsurface of valve body 21 so as to cover the central aperture. The bottomsurface of cylinder member 22 is that surface that will be in contactwith membrane actuator 7 of permanent part 2 when attached thereto.Nozzle body 28 may be made of a membrane having one or more perforationsand covering central aperture 27 such that a liquid substance may exitthe central aperture and the valve body by traversing the one or moreperforations of the perforated membrane. Such perforate membrane may bemade of for example a silicon array.

Valve body 21 further comprises on its bottom surface at its peripherytwo engagement notches 30 which are suitably arranged so as to fit intoslots 19 a and 19 b of PCB 5 so as to allow for a rotational movement ofthe valve body when attached to the permanent part, as will be explainedin more detail further on. Together, these slots and notches thus formjoining and locking means allowing attachment of the disposable part tothe permanent part. By selecting the length of the semi-circular slots19 a, 19 b, the rotational movement of the valve body can be set. Theseengagement notches form part of the plug-in system allowing to plug thedisposable part into permanent part 2 and to remove it again there from.Advantageously, these notches 30 may be formed as a BNC-type connectorsso as to allow to fit valve body 21, and thus the disposable part to thepermanent part 2 in a secure manner.

Further, bottom ring member 24 may be provided with two or moreprojections 31 arranged on its bottom surface, such to fit into acorresponding rivet of the permanent part 2 for fixing the disposablepart into a predetermined position with respect to the permanent part.In an advantageous arrangement, these projections 31 may be conductive,so that when inserted into rivet 15, an electric connection may beestablished, for example by further linking rivet 15 to electrode 13 onpermanent part 2.

The disposable part further comprises a reservoir constituting acompartment for containing a liquid substance that is to be expelledfrom the liquid droplet spray plug and spray system as a spray ofdroplets. As can be seen in FIG. 5, reservoir 33 is connected to andsurrounds valve body 21. Reservoir 33 preferably is of the form, filland seal type, and may be made of any suitable material for thispurpose. Examples of such materials are polyethylene or polypropylene.The reservoir may also be for example of an airless type, or a solidtype.

Advantageously, reservoir 33 may be divided into two sub-compartmentswhich each may contain a different liquid substance. For example, onesub-compartment may contain a perfume to be dispensed from the system,whereas the other sub-compartment may contain a cleansing liquid torinse the system after expelling the perfume. Such sub-compartments maybe separated one from the other in a known manner such as by a membraneplaced in the reservoir. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view ofreservoir 33 attached to valve body 21. Reservoir 33 is attached tovalve body 21 in a sealed manner to allow liquid to flow from reservoir33 into the valve body depending on the rotational positioning ofcylinder member 22 of the valve body with respect to outer rings 23 and24, i.e. depending on the fact whether the valve is in its open positionor in its closed position. As an example of the sealing of reservoir tothe valve body, ultrasound welding may be used. The reservoir may befilled after having been attached to the valve body.

FIG. 5 shows a general view of the disposable part of the liquid dropletplug and spray device according to the present invention. Assembling ofthe plug and spray system is as follows. The disposable part, hereafterreferenced by numeral 3, thus includes valve body 21 and reservoir 33and is fitted to permanent part 2 by inserting projections 31 intorivets 15 and by inserting notches 30 into grooves 19 a, 19 b. Whenfitted, the electronic control means arranged on permanent part 2 areelectrically connected with electrode 13 and membrane actuator 7 so asto allow activation of the electromechanical actuator 11.

Further, by rotating disposable part 3, a fluid compression chamber,indicated by space 35, is created, as shown in the detailed view of FIG.6, between membrane actuator 7 on permanent part 2 and nozzle body 28 ondisposable part 3. By further turning manipulating member 26 of valvebody 21, the fluidic channels 32 will be aligned with apertures 25 ofring members 23, 24 thus allowing the liquid substance contained inreservoir 33 to flow into space 35.

Thus, space 35 forms together with nozzle body 28 and membrane actuator7 a liquid droplet spray device for expelling the received liquidsubstance as a spray of droplets in a manner well known from otherdevices designed by the present Applicant and as described for examplein document EP 1236 517.

To ensure liquid tightness of the assembled plug and spray system, aseal 36, for example a gasket, seal is preferably provided between valvebody 21 and membrane actuator 7, as shown in FIG. 6. To this effect, acircular groove may be provided in the bottom surface of valve body 21for receiving a circular seal 36. When assembled, gasket 36 pressesagainst membrane actuator 7 thus ensuring liquid tightness. Such sealmay also be a seal provided by bi-injection moulding.

When activated, electromechanical actuator will vibrate membraneactuator 7 which will cause any liquid present in space 35 between themembrane actuator and the nozzle body to undergo a vibration and tocontact nozzle body 28 thereby traversing the nozzles as a liquiddroplet spray. Thus, the spray will be ejected from the top surface ofvalve body 21, as shown in FIG. 6.

The opening and closing of the fluidic channels in valve body 21 willnow be explained while referring to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 a shows across-sectional view of the liquid droplet spray system S according tothe present invention where the valve is in the closed position. Wheninserting disposable part 3 into permanent part 2, the notches 30 entergrooves 19 a, 19 b such that any liquid substance contained withinreservoir 33 is prevented from entering valve body 21 due to thenon-alignment of fluidic channel 32 of cylinder member 22 with aperture25 of ring members 23, 24. As shown in FIG. 7 b, after rotating cylindermember 22 by turning manipulating member 26, notches 30 slide alonggrooves 19 a, 19 b, until fluidic channel 32 is aligned with aperture25. Liquid may now flow from reservoir 33 into valve body 21 where itwill reach space 35. By activating electromechanical actuator means 11,the liquid will undergo a vibration and be expelled as a spray ofdroplets.

Fluidic channel 32 may further contain a soft porous medium, connectedon one side to space 35, to facilitate flow of liquid from a reservoir33 to space 35.

In a preferred arrangement, when turning manipulating member 26 so as toopen the valve, when notches 30 reach the end of grooves 19 a, 19 b, anelectronic contact may be made which will automatically activate theelectromechanical actuation means so as to trigger the spraying.

When using the above-mentioned sub-compartments in reservoir 33 thateach contain a liquid substance, ring members 23 and 24 should havetheir slots 18 a and 18 b arranged such as to allow flow from onesub-compartment at a time into fluidic channel 32 of valve body 21. Thiscan be achieved by having slots 18 arranged along the outer periphery oftop ring member 23 shifted along the periphery with respect to slots 18of bottom ring member 23 so that only one of these upper and lower slotsmay be aligned with a fluidic channel 32. FIG. 8 shows an example ofsuch an arrangement. Two sub-compartments 33 a and 33 b are provided. InFIG. 8 a, both sub-compartments are closed, i.e. none of the fluidicchannels are aligned with slots 18 so that no liquid can flow from areservoir into valve body 21. In FIG. 8 b, after turning the cylindermember 22, lower sub-compartment 33 a is opened due to the alignment ofa fluidic channel with a slot 18 a of bottom ring member 24. Thus,liquid substance contained in sub-compartment 33 a may flow into valvebody 21 and thus into space 35 to be expelled as a spray. By furtherturning cylinder member 22, lower sub-compartment 33 a is again closed,but upper sub-compartment 33 b is now opened by aligning a fluidicchannel with a slot 18 b of top ring member 23 thus allowing liquidsubstance to flow from sub-compartment 33 b into space 35, as shown inFIG. 8 c.

In a further advantageous arrangement, a powder compartment 38 may beprovided in the disposable part, for example in top ring member 23 asshown in FIG. 9 a. Top ring member 23 is hollow and may have a fillingopening 39 on its upper surface allowing filling it with a powder. Suchpowder may be a medical powder which may mix with a liquid substance inthe reservoir to form a desired solution. When the valve is closed, thepowder is separated from the liquid substance contained in reservoir 33.However, after turning cylinder member 22 to open the valve, as shown inFIG. 10, the powder can access reservoir 33 to contact the liquidsubstance so that a mixture may flow into valve body 21 through fluidicchannel 32 towards space 35 for spray ejection.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the permanent part 2. Thepermanent part has a support 51, again a PCB in this example, comprisingseveral, in this example six, different permanent sub-parts eachcomprising an electrode, an electromechanical actuation means, aninsulator and a membrane actuator. As shown, six different disposableparts 52 may be inserted into the corresponding sub-parts of thepermanent part, similar to a CD-carousel arrangement. Each disposablepart 52 corresponds to a disposable part 3 as described here before. Assuch, several liquid substances may be combined. For example, if theliquid substances are perfumed fragrances, a mixture of fragrances maythus be obtained. Of course, if each reservoir of a disposable part 52is again subdivided into two compartments, 12 different fragrances maybe mixed. In general, the number of fragrances n thus allows for anumber of combinations F according to the formula F=(n−1)*n/2.

In a further alternative arrangement, several powder compartments 38,each with their own filling opening 39, may be provided. Naturally, thenumber of fluidic channels in cylinder member 22 should be adjusted toallow for a corresponding number of mixtures of powders in the powdercompartments with the liquid substance in reservoir 33. An example ofsuch a multiple powder compartment is shown schematically in FIG. 12.

In an advantageous arrangement, the power source (not shown) may formpart of the disposable part 3 such that it constitutes one part withreservoir 33. The power source, typically a battery, may be suitablejoined to but detachable from reservoir and disposable part 3 such thatthe battery may be thrown away in an ecological manner separate fromdisposable part 3. For example, a tear-out cardboard may be used as thebattery pack attached to reservoir 33. By a suitable assembly of thedisposable part 3 and the permanent part 2, the fluidic connection maybe made on the top surface of PCB 5, whereas the electrical connectionmay be made on the bottom surface of PCB 5, for example by way of rivet15.

Thanks to this arrangement, it is possible to readily remove disposablepart 3 from the system, for example when the reservoir is empty or whenexchanging a reservoir containing one liquid substance against one witha different liquid substance is required without any leakage of liquidfrom disposable part 3 or from permanent non-disposable part 2. Furtherdue to the replacement of the nozzle body, a possible clogging ofnozzles is totally avoided.

Thanks to the above described features of the present liquid dropletplug and spray system, it is possible to use the system for atomising aliquid substance, such as perfume or medicaments, so that the system canbe used for example as a nebuliser, a perfume dispenser, an inhaler, anasal spray, or an ophthalmologic dispenser, or the like with an easilyexchangeable reservoir which does not dispense any liquid substance whennot in use.

Having described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it will nowbe apparent to one of skill in the art that other embodimentsincorporating its concept may be used. It is therefore, that thisinvention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but rathershould be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

1. Liquid droplet spray system for atomising a liquid substanceincluding functional liquids, medicated or not, sanitizing or not,fragranced or not, the system comprising: a support having a centralaperture; a liquid droplet spray device in which a space is provided,said space being arranged to receive said liquid substance, andincluding a nozzle body covering said space such that said liquidsubstance exits the space of the device by traversing the nozzle bodyand the system by traversing the central aperture of said support; areservoir for containing said liquid substance; a valve body forcontrolling access of said liquid substance from said reservoir to saidspace, and comprising a fluidic channel arranged to connect saidreservoir to said space by way of said valve body thereby conveyingliquid substance contained in said reservoir to said space by way ofcapillary action; an electromechanical actuator arranged to actuateliquid substance in said space such that the liquid substance undergoesa vibration and contacts the nozzle body thereby traversing the one ormore nozzles as a liquid droplet spray; and electronic control meansarranged to at least control said electromechanical actuator, whereinsaid liquid droplet spray system include two parts, a first, disposablepart in which said reservoir, said valve body, and said nozzle body, arearranged, and a second, non-disposable part in which said support, saidelectromechanical actuator and said electronic control means arearranged such that said reservoir does not directly contact said fluidicchannel, said valve body ensuring that said first, disposable part isliquid tight when not in use.
 2. Liquid droplet spray system accordingto claim 1, further comprising a membrane actuator arranged between saidelectromechanical actuator and said space.
 3. Liquid droplet spraysystem according to claim 2, wherein said disposable part furthercomprises notches, and wherein said support of said permanent partcomprises joining and locking means so as to allow attachment of thedisposable part to the permanent part.
 4. Liquid droplet spray systemaccording to claim 3, wherein said fluidic channel contains a softporous medium capable of facilitating the conveying of said liquidsubstance.
 5. Liquid droplet spray system according to claim 1, whereinsaid disposable part further comprises a power source.
 6. Liquid dropletspray system according to claim 5, wherein the electronic control meansare arranged to allow the system to be automatically started or stoppedwhen inserting or removing said disposable part comprising a powersource.
 7. Liquid droplet spray system according to claim 5, whereinsaid power source is removably attached to said reservoir.
 8. Liquiddroplet spray system according to claim 1, wherein said support is aflexible electric circuit board.
 9. Liquid droplet spray systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said support is a PCB.
 10. Liquid dropletspray system according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir comprises onemore sub-compartments, each sub-compartment containing a liquidsubstance.
 11. Liquid droplet spray system according to claim 1, whereinsaid disposable part further comprises a powder compartment forcontaining a powder and wherein a dose of a liquid and powder mixture isreleasable from said reservoir.
 12. Liquid droplet spray systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said reservoir is selected from the groupconsisting of a form, fill and seal type, an airless type, and a solidtype.
 13. Liquid droplet spray system according to claim 2, wherein saiddisposable part further comprises a power source.
 14. Liquid dropletspray system according to claim 3, wherein said disposable part furthercomprises a power source.
 15. Liquid droplet spray system according toclaim 4, wherein said disposable part further comprises a power source.16. Liquid droplet spray system according to claim 6, wherein said powersource is removably attached to said reservoir.